Herbie Brown’s story is still unfolding. A 1979 Airstream Landyacht , Herbie has been recently
transformed into FOTAS’ state-of-the-art Rescue Waggin’. How he got his name, his amazing career
change, and what he will be doing, are all long stories, but considering what
he will be up to in the next couple of months, well worth highlighting.
For over 25 years, the travel trailer belonged to Bert
Davis’ uncle, Herb Brown, who traveled among Airstream enthusiasts as far away
as Mexico, and who ultimately lived out his final years as a widower calling his
beloved RV home.
“My uncle loved this trailer and he liked to help people,”
Bert said, and then he did everything he could to help FOTAS get the project
going. Bert was so generous that we
named the trailer after his uncle.
Herbie Brown now sports
thank-you notes to his major benefactors on each rear corner. The first are only initials of anonymous
donors who funded the project. Then he
acknowledges Ernie Wolf who assembled the first crew for gutting, and basic
electrical work. There’s Robert McBrayer,
who spent a few weeks with
metal patches, silicone, primer, more primer, paint and
plywood securing the windows, sealing leaks, covering wheel wells, installing
subflooring, priming and painting the interior a brilliant fun yellow.
Ken Simmonds did the most exquisite job of laying vinyl on
the floors and up the walls that you’d think royalty would be traveling, not
dogs. Eric Figueroa of Premier Metals
created the secure generator housing on the trailer’s fork so the animals could
have light, music, and climate-controlled travel, winter or summer, wherever
they go.
Don Bush was the brilliant craftsman who designed, constructed,
and installed the four pens and their wire mesh doors. It was no small task to get the wood to
accommodate the irregular curve of aluminum interior walls designed like an
airplane fuselage.
Anthony Goehl, a recent transplant to Aiken, primed, painted,
and sealed the pens so that animals who travel can find clean, healthy
accommodations for every voyage.
Herbie is ever grateful to Charlie at Tyler Tire who was
under Herbie in a downpour; to Sherwin Williams for the advice, primer and
paint; and to Ron at Signworks who designed the messaging on Herbie’s exterior
so that wherever Herbie goes FOTAS’ message will be very clear: “Rescue, Adopt,
Spay/Neuter & Love!”
Soon, Herbie will be re-stationed between the C.A.T.S building
and the main county shelter waiting to be called into service. On May 26th, he will be the star
of Friends of the Animal Shelter’s march in Aiken’s Memorial Day Parade, along
with volunteers with adoptable county shelter dogs.
On Saturday, June 16th, we hope Herbie will be
the “Kitten Caboose” at FATZ Café, with Senior Vet Tech Sandy Larsen offering
adoptable kitties at FOTAS’ first “Breakfast at FATZ for County Shelter Cats!”
Be proud, Aiken County, we
are a community making a difference!
Just follow our latest miracle, Herbie Brown, who reflects the best of
who we are!
FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road. For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org
Aiken County Animal Shelter: “By the Numbers”
For April 23rd thru 29th 2012
Dogs taken in: 75!
Cats taken in: 37
Dogs adopted: 14
Cats adopted: 7
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”
 |
| WILLOW – An eager beagle, 4 yrs and 27 lbs. She will entertain and accompany many good walks. $70 |
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| GYPSY – Gorgeous gal! A purrfect companion who doesn’t need to be walked! $35 |
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Your comments and input are always welcome. We appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that will help FOTAS with their goal to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter become a happy, healthy place that never has to euthanize an adoptable pet.